In a recent article on Memeburn it was stated that, according to Kaspersky Lab’s report on cyber threats in Africa, “there were over 4.6 million cyber-attacks and malware infections on the computers and mobile devices of users in South Africa in the first quarter of 2014.” If you think you were safe from cyber criminals because they only target countries with higher income levels, you’re wrong.
But before you start panicking, there are precautions you can take to ensure you don’t become one of Kaspersky’s statistics.
The best defense against spyware and other unwanted software is not to download it in the first place. Here are a few tips that can help you avoid downloading software that you don’t want –
- Download programs only from websites you trust. If you’re not sure whether to trust a program you are considering downloading, enter the name of the program into your favorite search engine to see if anyone else has reported that it contains spyware. Files that end in the extensions .exe or .scr commonly hide malware. However, even files with familiar extensions such as .docx, .xlsx, and .pdf can be dangerous.
- Read all security warnings, license agreements, and privacy statements associated with any software you download. Before you install something, consider the risks and benefits of installing it, and be aware of the fine print. For example, make sure that the license agreement does not conceal a warning that you are about to install software with unwanted behaviour.
- Never click “Agree” or “OK” to close a window. Instead, click the red “x” in the corner of the window or press Alt + F4 on your keyboard to close a window.
- Be wary of popular “free” music and movie file-sharing programs, and be sure you understand all of the software that is packaged with those programs.
- Use a standard user account instead of an administrator account on your PC. This will prevent unwanted software from being installed without your knowledge.
- Don’t click links on suspicious websites or in email messages. Instead, type the website address directly into your browser, or use bookmarks.
- Don’t automatically trust that instant messages, email messages, or messages on social networking websites are from the person they appear to be from. Even if they are from someone you know, contact the person before you click the link to ensure that they intended to send it.
If you think your PC has been infected with unwanted software, do not hesitate to contact us at 808 4367 or helpinfo@sun.ac.za. If you’re unsure whether your PC has been infected, read our article on how to detect malware.
Source: http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/antivirus.aspx
